fancy cuffs and I won a prize!!!!

First of all, I love surprises! What girl doesnt? I dont care how old you are...I found the greatest blog...The bloggers name is Jenny and I think she found me first, but I visited and had a good laugh. She is a really good writer and I enjoy her perspective on ordinary things...I became a follower, just cause everyone needs a good laugh. I also commented on a little contest she was having..You didnt have to post on your blog, or become a follower. Just make a guess. I did and I won! Can you believe it? The gift was a surprise, and today it came in the mail...It has the most adorable fall card and these gorgeous Fall towels from Moda...

I love the detail of the towels on the bottom....

The middle one is my fave! Thank you so much Jenny! You made my day...Go visit her at http://jennymattok.blogspot.com
At Fiber Art Traders, a Yahoo group that is pretty fun, there is a trade for embellished cuffs..You wear them like bracelets and they are really fun. We are making them without closures, cause the person who gets yours will fit it to their wrist...I made mine with silks...they are nice and shiny and sparkly. I am all about that.....
Other than that, I am still really battling depression and anxiety and it has been a rough road...I am doing everything I can to get better but it almost makes it worse before it gets better...Art really does help and having someone that loves and supports me even when I am a sobby, snotty mess and a half. We are working on a project together and that is good therapy too...In the house there is an upstairs where the eaves go to the floor...one huge part of it was finished and that is my little studio. The other part is at the top of the stairs and it just was a mess...so we made storage behind the sheet rock and put down flooring...then we have been ripping and tearing and cleaning up the other room. It is going to be a play room/ bedroom for the grandkids...I am doing it in orange and turquoise and a sea green floor....It is already adorable..I will post before and afters when it is done...Now I just need my babies to put in it and I would be thrilled!!!!

From start to finish..

I finished the quilt with the Tumbleweed in it and for the first time, I documented the process of making an art quilt...I have been asked how I do it, and it is hard to explain...I thought about it and took lots of pictures....What I wanted to do, was make a background for the quilted little trailer to sit on. First I cut a piece of cotton duck to put the background on. I knew I wanted this quilt to be big..Way bigger for an art quilt than I normally do, so I cut it 25"wide by 36" long..Why, I don't know, it just looked right...Then I dug through my scraps of fabric looking for pieces that look like scenery fabric. I knew I wanted a woodsy type scene and also wanted some of it to look like fields. I love how they look like patchwork quilts in the distance...I also wanted some kind of road meandering up to the top...I started cutting and laying pieces of fabric down until I was happy..Then I use a temporary spray adhesive to adhere it all down so I can move it around until I sew it...Here is what it looks like...( you can click on all these pictures to make it bigger...)
The next step was to start sewing..The hardest part of the sewing was the big tree...I kind of penciled it in on the fabric, dropped the feed dogs and sewed..Then I decided to add some Neocolor twos to add some color. It didn't work and muddied it up. I then threw some alcohol inks on it, just letting the drops hit it and then I went in with red and fuchsia threads and did loops to look like fall foliage..The rest of the fabrics I just really tried to follow the lines and put some curves in. When I do this much thread work, I don't put a fabric back on...I do it at the end. So what I am quilting on is the fabric laid down on the cotton duck and batting on the back...This is what it looked like when I was done with all the stitching..
and here is what it looks like from the back.../>
I then sewed down the 3d trailer piece that I showed in the previous post and decided it needed something else...I decided to put Coopers head somewhere on the bottom of the quilt...I traced it on a piece of yellow wool felt and free motioned the details..then I cut it out and added the red scarf which I thought looked cute hanging over the edge..Then I cut another piece of cotton duck for the back, used spray adhesive to stick it and then did a 2 and a quarter inch binding....All in all, this is way more sewing than I usually do! I think I put six or seven real hours in doing this quilt...Here is the finished project..What do you think? I am calling it "lets camp"....

The start of an art quilt....

OK, remember when I said I was Vintage trailer obsessed in my seven things list? Well, I am and this proves it..I started an art quilt centered around the Tumbleweed and how I want to paint him...Red on the top, yellow emblem, a paint horse section,and shiny white...The quilted trailer is lying on a piece of wool felt that I use as a background...then I pencil it in on a piece of white fabric and free motion sew the outlines, then I cut it out and start on the details...He isn't totally done yet, but once he is finished, I will make a background quilt to put him on...I am thinking of a road winding along the ocean. Why I do these kind of things, I have no idea but I smile the whole time and I guess that is what it is all about...Maybe I will get it finished tomorrow!

My new baby is home and ornament quilt blocks....

First of all the blocks...These are so easy to make, but I am not getting them five inches square..I am wondering if I am not reading the cutting dimensions right...Robin, who is hosting the swap, has the cutest Halloween background on her blog that is purple..Unfortunately I cant read the writing..I am going to have to check with her..They are awful cute though...You write your signature in the middle..I am going to make a table runner with my finished blocks....
Now for my news....drumroll.....the baby is here..No, he doesn't have four legs or fur, it is not a vegetable, animal or mineral or a person for that matter..But boy am I excited! Let me introduce you to Tumbleweed!!!!!

He is my new to me , 1961 vintage Deville trailer and he is in wonderful shape...
All the original appliances, and furnishing and he is 15 feet of lovely potential! I am so excited to turn him into in traveling art gallery...cowboy themed...

My fascination with vintage trailers started about five years ago when I met a quilter who with a bunch of friends traveled in themed, restored vintage trailers..She showed me pictures and I was just blown away. I just have never been settled enough to be able to do it! The group of quilters were inspired by "sisters on the fly". They now have over a thousand members and as soon as Tumbleweed is ready, I am going to be one of them...You can see their website at www.sistersonthefly.com Another great site with wonderful pictures to ogle is http://thevintagehousewife.blogspot.com

As you can see, cooper is pretty excited too..He loves camping and he says he will wear a red bandanna so he fits in with the theme...The great news, is it is in great shape...One spot of dry rot that already is repaired as of today. I wont bore you anymore going on and on but I will do picture updates as work progresses....

Art quilts and over the hump...

I had a very rough few days but now I am back with a smile on my face and ready to rejoin the world...I hit rock bottom over the kids being back with mom..It is funny how sometimes feelings are delayed...I knew the grief was in there, I just wasnt letting it out cause it felt so big it was scary. I felt like if I let a little out, it might all come pouring out and somehow I might get lost in it...Here is the deal...Me raising the kids for two years was a lose, lose situation for me...It didnt start out that way...To back up I got them when Andrew was 18 months and liv was 6...I look at my nephew Jace, who is just over a year and I am shocked that Andrew was that little...It was tough, I walked the floor with him, liv cried for her mom everytime she was upset and I just went day to day...But in those first few days, weeks and months I had hope...I figured I am watching them while she uses the time to get better. Except she wasnt and it started to show...Christmas comes (a deadline in my mind...what mom wouldnt be there for Christmas? ) birthdays, school things, then Ron died..still nothing..Then my thinking changed..I am now their mother and father and this is where the lose/lose comes in for me...if she doesnt get better, I am going to raise them by myself and it is going to be soooo hard and if she does get better, they are going to be ripped away from me and my heart is going to go with them. Am I saying that this isnt where the kids belong, back with mom? No, becuase I am happy for them...It just hurts so darn bad you guys...so bad, it is like physical pain...She doesnt have them call me and it is just like I went from full time mom to nothing...I did talk to Andrew the other day( the first time since the end of July) and I just had tears streaming down my face the whole time. I spent a day and a half in bed just crying and praying and trying to come to terms with this whole thing...I am doing better right now...I know why God brought me to Utah...I have the best man in the world in my life and I am so grateful. He shares my sadness and helps me here and prays for me and reminds me to do the same...Ok, enough of this...just feel like a lot of you have been on this journey of raising grandbabies with me and wanted to share....
I keep posting pictures of quilties that I am making for a round robin swap so I thought I would post some of the ones made for me so far...My theme is Red, black and white...open to whatever the artist wants to do....
These are the first three quilties that I got....A red shiny flower on a background of pristine white with the finest little stitches by Judy Ross...I just love how dainty it is , cause it is the exact oposite of something I would do.....Then in the back is this beautiful, textured piece by Holly...I love the muslin edges and I think the whole thing just comes together...The quilite on the right is by one of my very good friends, Marva...she knows I like "stuff" and she did me proud...she is a beautiful sketcher and crazy quilter and she captured what I like just perfect! I also had to show the front and backs of the quilties that my good friend Sanna and I made for each other...We put our hearts in this stuff and go to town. I think the way we put things together kind of in the same way. Earlier you saw the front of her bird piece but I am going to show it again and this time show the back too...her tag is a birds egg...

Now here is the quiltie she made for me...all the little jesters are handpainted on canvas, then sewn on...


Last of all I am showing a picture of an art quilt I just made...An experiment that worked..YAY! I actually quilted, sewed and painted a picture of BF and I ...the pic was taken on my birthday...We were out dancing and he held out his arm and took this picture of the both of us...the white is his cowboy hat..I thought it wouldnt hurt to try to do it...I sketched it in pencil on a piece of wool felt then started painting and stitching...then when it was done I cut it out..Then I made a Utah canyon background out of fabric, paint and stitches and sewed the portrait on...It's called Love in the canyon....cool huh? I am going to mat and frame it....He loves it by the way....
Also, just have to add that today is a very exciting day here at my house!!! I am bringing home a new baby to love and care for...Any ideas? you will have to wait and see!!!!!

Quilt for Baby Adeline is done...

It is all wrapped up in baby pink tulle and ready to send to her mama tomorrow..She is ready to be born anytime..is there anything better than a new baby? I am blown away by the whole miracle of life...I hope you both love it Jessica!
I also was tagged and given an award by Valerie at http://yarnigras.blogspot.com
She is one of the nicest people, has a truly talented budding artist for a daughter and she is a lot of fun. I met her thru apron swaps, and she has become a good friend! Thank you Val!!! The rules are: 1. Thank the person who gave this to you. 2. copy the logo and place it on your blog. 3.link to the person who nominated you. 4. name seven things about yourself no one would really know. 5.nominate 7 kreative bloggers. 6. post links to the seven blogs...7.Leave a comment on each blog letting them know you have nominated them...Ok, on to my seven things....
1. I didnt learn to drive until I was 26
2.I dont like pizza...I hated it when I was a kid, it was right up there with liver.
3. I am obsessed with vintage trailers right now..OBSESSED
4. I play the saxophone
5. I come from a family of hypochondriacs to the point where it is funny
6. I only get two or three grey hairs...moms side of the family were never grey
7. I cant whistle, at all...I think my tongue is deformed..hee hee, or maybe something is wrong with it..like some disease...(see number five above..)
Who do I pass this lovely award too? mmmm....first of all Jessica at http://kidsnappinimscrappin.blogspot.com She makes some darn cool paper bag albums...one of these days I know I will make one, cause she has an amazing tutorial...Then on to Robin at http://rsislandcrafts.blogspot.com Robin is having giveaways so you need to go there anyway...I am looking forward to getting to know her better. I have to nominate Sherry because our answers are always so similar it is kind of eerie, and I want to see what she has to say and cause I love her..http://ificouldsetmysoulfree.blogspot.com I also am going to tag her daughter Lexie..She is raising a little guy and going to school and I am as proud of her as Sherry,...close anyway!...http://alexiskirker.blogspot.com I will think some more and post the res tomorrow cause my fingers are tired!!!!! Ok, I am adding to the list now.... First of all Miss Colleen the Utah Grammie...(yeah, the one who won the the quilt)..her sense of humor and writing style has kept me coming back for more of her blog...she is funny you all, seriously funny! http://mainstreammemories.blogspot.com Then there is my new friend Karen...I love her name, Mrs. Sew and Sew....She also has a new grandbaby that is a doll and you can find her at http://mrssewandsewquilts.blogspot.com and last of all a new friend in Ireland who makes beautiful things...Micki of Irish muses....go see her at http://thedote.blogspot.com

Witches cupboard swap and a block swap!

I got the scariest package ever from Tammy at http://sweetsews.blogspot.com It was all part of the fun thanks to Valerie's "Witches Cupboard Swap"! Some scary skulls and hairy spiders, cookie cutters, skull plates and napkins and the best handmade Halloween journal that I just adore! I can use it to jot down spells and recipes..Thanks so much Tammy..I love it all and it was so fun to open...especially since I had my sister and my niece as an audience and they wanted to know why I was getting all this cool stuff! Also, thank you Val for hostessing....I also wanted to mention that I made a new friend named Robin...Her blog is http://rsislandcrafts.blogspot.com She is having thirteen days of giveaways and also hostessing a quilt block swap that I have joined. It is a signature Christmas tree ornament swap...the block is five inches and very simple..She is looking for swappers to join up until October fifteenth. It makes the cutest quilt..look at the picture...You can go to her blog to join or to find out more...Other than that, today has been the laziest day in the world and I am loving it...Yesterday boyfriend and I ran around all day and I am tired. We went to a car show, and then a pumpkins and harvest craft fair and then we went to a japanese place to eat...I decided to be adventurous and try some sushi that I hadnt had before...It was all good until BF made a comment about how it smelled just like the fishing docks at LaPush....EEEEWWWWW...The sushi eating was all downhill after that but it was worth a good laugh. In fact my cheeks are still sore from smiling...Today the only ambitious thing I have done is I did a load of laundry..and I baked a cake..

nature journal pages....

This is for my Amusing Muses group...We are having a nature journal round robin so I played with the idea of Spring...I love the colors and I so miss them every winter...In fact, let's just skip the whole winter thing and go straight to the colors and rebirth that spring means...Monday it was in the 80's here and then the last three days it has really cooled down. There is snow on the mountains surrounding us...How did it happen so fast? I am sooo not a winter person.

What I made today....

A whole outfit! I know, I cant believe it either and I actually enjoyed the process...The top is a simple v neck knit and I used a pattern that someone gave me. The skirt, I just made up, and the bag, I tried to follow a pattern and then said forget it, wadded it up and made it the way I wanted too..The great news...The whole thing cost me a buck...yep, a dollar. The cheap in me just loves it...I got both the black and red print at a garage sale this summer for 1.00. The rest of the stuff I had. The bag I embellished the heck out of and just played with trims and stitches. It is lined in red with white polka dot flannel that was the trim off a pair of pj bottoms that I made. I have a really cool black jacket and a pair of boots that I think this would look pretty cute with. I also got a package today in the mail with Halloween goodies...I will post a picture in the morning!My home ec teacher, God love her, would have a stroke for sure...

songbird journal quilt....

This is for a round robin journal swap and they are fabric pieces that are 6x 8....This one is for Sanna whose theme is birds and nests and she likes blues and creams...I didnt really get the cream in, but I am hoping she likes it anyway. I started with a plain piece of canvas duck, made up some fabric paper and painted and stitched. I love the dimension that fabric paper adds to things....click on the picture and you will see a close up...I think you will see what I mean!

Two Halloween fabric pieces....

Fiber art Traders, a Yahoo group I belong too had two challenges..A 5x7 monster fabric piece and a 8.5x11 haunted house fabric piece...I felt inspired today and went crazy upstairs...The haunted house piece was especially fun. I just started laying down upholstery and silk scraps then free motioning the details. I sure enjoy just letting it flow....

Baby quilt and a new kitten....

My quilt giveaway was so fun...kind of sad to see it over but I have been pretty busy. First of all, I am finally organized as fair as my sewing and art supplies go...it has been a long, long time...I mean everything has a place instead of just randomly thrown in bins...It has made a huge difference and I found all kinds of cool stuff! It was almost as fun as going thru someones attic and finding all kinds of treasures..I am still amazed at how many big pieces of fabric I have and now they are all folded and neatly put away in their very own bin. It took me two days to get it done but it was worth it. I have moved so much that it has just gotten worse with every move...I also got a new kitten and boy is he cute...Thomas is spitting mad at me and Cooper is just so jealous he cant stand it...I just decided on a whim that I needed a kitten and I found this adorable little guy...he is super tiny..The first night it was like having a newborn baby in the house...He cried and woke up every two hours. Now he has settled right in. I named him Joe Bobbin. He almost is too little to be away from his mama but I am doing better with him every day...I have scratches all over my arms from his little needle claws. I love kittens! I took a picture of Cooper, the kitten and I and Cooper had to try to jump on my lap....notice the stick in his mouth? that is him being neurotic about the kitten...'see my stick? "see my stick!!!" Thomas was off sulking somewhere...I also have been working on a baby girl quilt. This the top almost finished. I actually got it done tonight and I am going to quilt it up tomorrow. I made it for my blogger friend Jessica who is expecting her third little girl. I remember for my first baby, all the baby gifts, then a little less for the second, and the third even less. I just wanted her to have something special. It is in really soft colors by moda..pinks, yellow, cream and a little bit of brown..I found the pattern at the Utah quilt guild show...It is called "somebunny loves me"...Just thought it was adorable. I appliqued the bunny in soft pink chenille..I really like it and I hope she does too!

And the winner of the quilt is............

drum roll........Utah Grammie!!!!! Maybe I can meet you and hand deliver it to you! Thanks everyone for celebrating my 250th post with me..It has been a lot of fun and I will do it again..maybe for my 500th! Melinda

Quilt is done and the giveaway is Tuesday!

Wow! what a great response and so much fun for me...I still am trying to email everyone back and visit some new blogs...I just love talking to the quilters and looking at all the great quilts...I am really pleased with how my giveaway quilt turned out and I hope whoever wins it likes it as much as I do! Speaking of Quilters, Jean the quilting granny is having a giveaway on her blog...go see her..She is one of my very good friends and I love ya Jean..http://quiltingranny.blogspot.com Just scroll down and you will see it...she is giving away various quilting things and the giveaway is October first..... I also finished my Halloween Swap..It was a ten dollar limit so I really got creative...even sprayed some branches from the yard black. I really, really, had fun making this..just played with fabric like a little kid until it took shape. i never have a plan, it just kind of turns into what it wants to be. I just run the sewing machine like a madwoman...Also another quiltie for my sewing circle group...Judy's theme was chickens so being inspired by a handsome rooster at the State fair I had to stitch him up...these little quilts are 6x8 which actually is really small to fit a bunch of stuff on...I wont say they are any quicker though... I also am showing a picture of two of my first run of quilts hanging on the line...Is there anything better? They make me smile looking so pretty out there. The blue one is Coopers..Dogs need snuggle quilts too...I didn't get to go to Portland..I am pretty disappointed, but I have been using the time to work on projects...It makes me feel better. Julie decided to stay another week in Oregon, and I just couldn't go for that long! Lisa is thinking of moving to Utah though, and I am hoping for that...I miss my kids!!!!!

The Giveaway Quilt is Quilted!!!! Keep those entries coming!

Another busy, busy couple of days but I got it quilted and Thomas the cat says it's going to be a big hit...He is always my partner in crime (Quilting) in the sewing room...Now just in case you win, and you don't appreciate cat hair I will say that I always wash a quilt and wrap it up pretty before sending it on it's way. I love the quilted look it gets as everything comes together...Boyfriend and I went to another baseball game last night and had a great time and then today, we went with Julie and Steve and baby Jace to the Utah State fair...There are some rockin' quilters here for sure! I shouldve brought a camera, but of course I didn't. My favorite is always the animal barns though. I love the goats and the chickens and bunnies. So did Jace until a rooster crowed and he got scared and screamed bloody murder... I am leaving Monday morning for Portland. I will be gone for a week and I am so excited to see my babies!!!!!!! I will probably cry my eyes out when I see them. Julie is driving with me so it should be fun. Road trip...mmmmmmm..I hate riding in the car, but it will be worth it to see the kids! I am going to announce the quilt winner a week from Tuesday..I am having more fun doing this. I have been so blessed to make such good friends through blogging, and I am hoping to make some more! One of my good friends is Tonya at http://tonyassewingroom.blogspot.com and she had a post about how "where and How did we start quilting?' and "What started us on this wonderful endless journey" So, I thought I would write my piece too...it first came from Daisy at http://daisyquilts.blogspot.com. I have said it before and you may have read it, but I flunked Home ec sewing....Looking back I think it moved to slow and the ole ADD thing kicked in and I was bored...I honestly didnt think I would ever enjoy sewing but I liked the idea of it. When I was forty I started scrapbooking and became obsessed and then I started looking at fabrics...It isn't a huge jump from paper to fabric. At least it wasn't in my mind. I told my boyfriend James that I wanted to make a quilt and needed a sewing machine so he took me on a shopping trip and loaded me up...(what a sweetheart huh?) I was worried when it took me a day to thread the thing. I taught myself to sew and quilt using a Joanns block of the month quilt...I made two from start to finish, including free motion quilting them under my machine and I fell in love. The first quilt I finished is downstairs on my couch now and yes, it is a hot mess, but I love it. I had given it to my grandma and she adored it and showed everybody and even entered it in the Tillamook County Fair ( much to my horror)....It got a mercy red ribbon...When she passed away my dad gave it back to me and I treasure it. I went from quilting to art quilting and fabric art...My favorite part is picking the fabric and the piecing...the binding being my least favorite though by then I am excited to have it finished. I machine stitch it all including the back of the binding. I also am not a meticulous quilter but what I am is a joyful quilter...I think to me it means expressing myself in fabric and having fun. I love bright colors and a lot of pattern. I would have a hard time working with some of the more traditional lines of fabrics. I have always said that someday I will be making quilts to giveaway and I think I am about there. I love giving them as gifts and my quilts are made to be used, loved and get worn out. They will never be in a quilt show but they are made with love while I am singing and dancing my little heart out...And why do you quilt?

post #249 my big quilt giveaway!!!!

You all know it is coming...Post # 250 and I am feeling really proud of myself about it! A lot of you have been with me through the good days and the not so great days and now it is time to celebrate....I am giving away a QUILT!!!! It is so pretty in turquoise and greys and a some orange for punch and it is between a full sized and a twin so there is a lot to snuggle up with...It's on the quilter now, and I am making it for my special reader that wins it...It could be you! All you need to do is post a comment on either this, or the next two posts, put the button on the sidebar on your blog and become a follower of my blog...Each thing will get you an entry..So up to three! If you already follow my blog, one entry is automatic just cause I love you all so much!!!! I am so excited about this and cant wait to get the winner by random number generator! Good luck everyone and Happy 25oth!!!!

A necklace and pajama pants....

As usual, I have had a busy few days, but I still have gotten in some time to
work on a few things. I made the cutest pair of pajama pants out of the softest
flannel in the world. I made them for my sister Julie and then I put them on and
they spoke to me, they really did and now they are mine. I am not totally mean, I have fabric to make her another pair and I wont try them on either. What she doesn't know wont hurt her is how I am justifying it. I also worked on my black and white charm necklace and I finished it! I love it...It has handmade charms from all kinds of people on it and I think it is a stunner..In fact, I wore it today and got all kinds of comments...good ones by the way. (I am wearing the necklace in the pictures)I also am posting a picture of a stray sunflower in my tomatoes...He is so pretty and just a little guy..They grow every where wild here. I have always loved sunflowers, so bright and happy. I joined Valerie's Halloween swap, so I am starting a few projects for that and I also have my 25oth post coming up and I am planning for that. When I started blogging, I wasn't sure I could keep up with it and it has come to mean a lot to me. I have made some of the greatest friends and they understand me because we have creating in common...I don't have to explain anything and it gives me a forum and a voice and I think that is why we all blog. Sometimes the privacy thing is kind of scary, because I think at times we all really open up, but maybe that is what makes it so great too...You all don't want to miss my giveaway for my 250th post...I am making a quilt now and it is going to be a nice one..just a little hint...I may make an apron too, but I am not sure if I will have the time. The weather is really beautiful right now and BF and I are taking advantage of it. We went out on Willard Reservoir yesterday in the boat with Julie and Steve and baby Jace..We had a blast...I named the boat "The Big Banana" cause it is a big yellow (of all colors) Bayliner...It is amazing to me how much water is actually in Utah!!! Willard is huge...I thought it was part of the Salt Lake cause it is right next to it but the water is fresh..Julie and I would jump off the boat and swim until she made a comment about what was swimming around under us and the "Jaws music started playing in my head. I hit the swim step...FAST...We also went to another baseball game this week and had friends over for a bbq. Tomorrow we are going to ride the motorcycle up the canyon to Pine ridge reservoir and go poke around. It is so green and pretty up there. Another Utah surprise. I am really starting to like it here...